Jobs Online - The Resource for Online Job Seekers

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11/20/2008 08:26 AM

How to game plan your job search (podcast)

Is she the jerry maguire of career advice? Female sports agent Molly Fletcher stops by to discuss her new book "Your Dream Job Game Plan, 5 tools for becoming your own career agent". She also reveals how one particular job seeker impressed her. Download the MP3 Subscribe on iTunes (must have itunes software)

11/19/2008 08:43 PM

One Job Every Day Isn't Enough

It's been a year since One Day, One Job launched, and my inbox tells me that one new entry level job every day isn't enough. Readers want more. They want to know how to find jobs on their own and how to stand out when they apply. That's not something that can be communicated in a single blog post, so we're in the process of putting together a job search training course that is not only going to answer the job seeker questions that we're used to hearing, but it's also going to change the way that people look at job search. We're pretty excited about it, so go check out the announcement.

11/18/2008 05:51 PM

Do Resume Guarantees Guarantee You a Better Resume?

In today’s competitive marketplace, you will find some resume writing firms offering guarantees for the products they deliver. How do these guarantees work, you ask? They typically commit the resume company to reworking the product if the client has not earned an interview in a certain amount of time, say 30 or 45 days. OK. Sounds nice, right? But are you guaranteed a better resume as a result? Not necessarily. And this may have absolutely nothing to do with the level of expertise the writer holds or the quality of the document they produced. So is it a bad thing? Resume guarantees have some pros and some cons. For example, on the pro side, they tend to build the confidence the job seeker may have in the resume writer. Resume guarantees can also be a strong marketing tool to drive customers to a particular firm. However, many resume writers that also provide services to help job seekers in their job search refuse to offer a guarantee. They do so for several reasons; but the main reason is that the number of days in the guarantee sets a false expectation with the job seeker regarding how fast they should be able to get a job. Just a tool Remember, the resume is just a tool. If a writer prepares a great resume for a job seeker, who then simply posts it on one site and waits for something to happen, how does this gauge the resume’s quality? It really doesn’t! With a guarantee, this particular job seeker will then be calling the resume writer after a few weeks to complain that they have not had any activity, they are disappointed, and that they want the resume revised. If this job seeker sounds like you, watch out! You may very well be asking the resume writer to make unnecessary changes to a well-written document, all because you did not have the proper expectations going into the process. If you've followed any of my blogs, by now, you will see that I seem to have a mantra..."proper expectation...proper expectations..." That's because so much comes down to that. Everyone thinks they have the answer, that they are the exception, that if they just buy this book or that system, but it all really comes down to common-sense principles leveraged with a keen understanding of your market, which all lead to, yep, you guessed it, proper expectations!

11/17/2008 08:21 AM

Latest shows on JobRadio.fm

This week on JobRadio.fm you'll hear: Total Picture Radio 10 Great Career Lies: Have you tried to plan your career? Do you consider yourself, or others you admire to be “self-made?” Do you believe hard work and skill will be properly rewarded? If you’ve answered “yes” to any of the above, you just might change your mind after you listen to our Success Strategies Podcast with Stever Robbins, Executive Coach and host of the Get-it-Done Guy podcast. Employer Branding & Social Media: Peter Clayton interviews Paul Harrison, managing partner of Carve, a London-based digital engagement consultancy at the Onrec.com Expo 2008 - Global Conference for Online Recruitment in Chicago last month. Paul, and his team at Carve, help organizations build compelling employer brands and develop impactful talent attraction strategies. His presentation at OnRec was titled: “Listening to the Conversation - Employer Brands and the Social Media” Secrets of the Job Hunt Blogging for Jobs: Matt Terl is the new blogger for the Washington Redskins. Learn how he went from fan to his dream job of professional sports blogger covering his favorite team. In this candid interview he’ll also tell us what skills every blogger needs to have to succeed. All about Healthcare careers: Andrea Santiago, About.com’s guide to healthcare careers stops by to talk about the state of the healthcare job market. She’ll tell you how to transition into healthcare as well as tips for finding the job right for you. The Savvy Jobseeker Is that Negotiable: Your job hunt has paid off and you’ve just received a job offer - but it isn’t quite what you had in mind. Is there room for negotiation? If so, what is the best way to handle it? And how should you broach the subject of a salary increase at your current job? Executive Career Coach, Cheryl Palmer, M.Ed., CECC, CPRW, will join us to discuss the art of salary negotiations during “Is That Negotiable?” Reaching out to Employers: Mary Elizabeth Bradford joins us this week to discuss using the telephone to reach out and touch potential employers. Tune in to learn three reasons your telephone is a secret weapon in your job search. Jobs in Pods Veer: Talent Scout Anette Ceraficki and her new colleague from Corbis discuss their recent merger and their current hiring plans for offices in Seattle and Calgary. EMC: This jobcast features technology careers with EMC. They are currently hiring for the role of Microsoft Infrastructure Solutions Architect nationwide. Joining us to discuss the job and culture at EMC is David Gnall, a National Practice Lead for Microsoft Technical Infrastructure and Marcie Phillips, Senior Recruiter in Talent Acquisition. Jobacle - The Working Podcast #70: Nutrition tips for work

11/15/2008 08:12 AM

What You Can Do Before a Layoff Hits

Given the state of the U.S. economy and resulting corporate belt-tightening, it makes sense to be prepared for a possible layoff. And for those employed by a company struggling financially, getting “job search ready” is a wise move. Here are some steps you can take to soften the blow should a layoff hit. Get Your Resume Ready: Refresh your resume by bringing it up to date, adding new skills as you master them and including career related milestones and accomplishments. You can always trim irrelevant information from final versions as you customize your resume for specific opportunities. Keep Your Network Alive and Well: Actively networking while you’re still working is the best way to keep your network thriving; check in with network members with a quick lunch, phone call or email; seek out opportunities to help others - someday you may want to ask them to help you. Start thinking about a career change now: If you’ve been thinking of making a career change, you’re much better off pursuing it while you’re still employed. A career transition takes more time than a job search. You want to give yourself the time to do it when you’re not under pressure so you can find a new career that’s really right for you. Copy your official personnel folder: Get a copy of your personnel file from HR - performance reviews, letters of commendation, warnings, etc, and copy it - “just for my own records.” Although you may have many of these documents already (which, of course, you have been keeping over the years), make a copy of everything you can. Put together a list of potential references: Ask supervisors, managers, colleagues, co-workers, and subordinates, whom you have worked well with for their personal contact information so that you can stay in touch after you, or they, leave your current employer. Be a reference for others: If you like another’s work, be willing and prepared to be a reference for co-workers, colleagues, supervisors, and subordinates. This is a great way to initiate post-employment networking, and that’s a very good thing for your future job searches. If you become clear that a lay-off is coming, quietly remove personal items from the workplace: Start taking personal items home, as quietly and as unobtrusively as you can as you may not have time to pack should you get tapped. If you’ve installed your own software on your company’s computer, take home the package, and all related discs and documents. Also, if you’ve done any personal work on your office computer, be sure to take copies home and delete those files from the office computer. A word of caution: Be careful about removing anything that the company would consider to be owned by the company, including documents and information marked “confidential” or considered proprietary, like customer lists, proposals, patent applications, financial reports, etc. Unless you’ve made advance arrangements, your employer probably “owns” what you have created at work. They also own your office computer and the office supplies you use. You can be sued for violating confidentiality agreements or even accused of theft. Call an attorney outside the company if you are not sure. You don’t want to become a “criminal” in the process of preparing for your next job search. Educate yourself on company severance policy: Explore the company policy manual to find out what you can expect from the company as standard practice and identify, in advance, what you might be able to negotiate as part of that package. Prepare yourself to negotiate for as much as company policy allows. Pursue disability coverage before you lose your job: Personal disability coverage is an important thing to have - and it’s also important to secure coverage based on your current level of income. Apply for such coverage while your income is at its highest. This could involve supplementing the group coverage you may have through your job with individual coverage.

11/12/2008 06:51 AM

10 job search strategies for 2009

There's no question job seekers face a challenging employment environment and must work hard to find new opportunities. To help professionals looking to make their next career move, Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International and author of Job Hunting For Dummies(R), 2nd Edition (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), recently discussed the 10 strategies every would-be employee should follow. "In this economic environment, applicants must be resourceful," said Messmer. "A successful job search often depends on who you know, which means candidates need to make sure their efforts are as far-reaching as possible." Messmer offers the following top-10 list of essential tactics to help job seekers gain an edge in a tougher employment market: 1. Step outside your comfort zone. Avoid limiting your search to your current industry or field. Identify your transferable skills and experiences, and communicate them to prospective employers. 2. Minimize work history gaps. If you are unable to find a position right away, consider temporary assignments, internships and part-time opportunities, all of which can potentially lead to a full-time role. 3. Be flexible. Remain open to all possibilities, even if the job title, salary and benefits may not be exactly what you hoped for. Once you get your foot in the door, you will have a chance to prove yourself. 4. Find jobs before they're advertised. Read your local business journals and newspapers to identify companies that are hiring or expanding, and send them your resume. 5. Cast a wide 'net.' General job boards can be useful, but don't forget industry and trade association websites, which may have more targeted career opportunities. 6. Network -- online and off. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job, whether in-person or using professional networking websites. 7. Manage your digital footprint. Think your friends are the only people who viewed those less-than-professional vacation photos you posted online? Think again. With a few mouse clicks, potential employers can dig up information about you on blogs, personal websites and personal networking site profiles. Make sure you do a thorough self-search and take any necessary corrective action. 8. Customize. Tailor your resume and cover letter for each opportunity. Employers want to see why you're the right person for their job. 9. Enhance your marketability. Find out what skills are most in-demand and take steps to give yourself an edge in these areas. Focus on sharpening both functional and interpersonal skills. 10. Meet with a recruiter. Staffing executives can be your eyes and ears in the job market. Recruiters also provide useful feedback on your resume and interview skills, and help you locate full-time and temporary jobs.

11/16/2008 09:14 PM

Job Applications in the Digital Age

By Miriam Salpeter Keppie Careers Maybe you've heard that President-elect Obama will be hiring 7,000 people to fill positions in his administration? The application itself, which includes 63 detailed questions, may deter many job seekers. In fact, Nisha Chittal at Brazen Careerist suggested that anyone who posts information online not even bother with the application. She points to questions such as: "If you have ever sent an electronic communication, including but not limited to an email, text message or instant message, that could suggest a conflict of interest or be a possible source of embarrassment to you, your family, or the President-elect if it were made public, please describe." "Please provide the URL address of any websites that feature you in either a personal or professional capacity (e.g. Facebook, My Space, etc.)" "If you keep or have ever kept a diary that contains anything that could suggest a conflict of interest or be a possible source of embarrassment to you, your family, or the President-Elect if it were made public, please describe." "Please list, and, if readily available, provide a copy of each book, article, column, or publication (including but not limited to any posts or comments on blogs or other websites) you have authored, individually or with others. Please list all aliases or 'handles' you have used to communicate on the internet." Certainly, anyone with a deep digital footprint would need to be careful about answering these questions. What? You forgot about that diary/blog you kept two years ago detailing an intimate relationship with someone who is anti-government? Can you imagine providing copies of everything you've ever published? Including comments on other blogs? What about offering your online aliases? What is the point of an alias if it's not anonymous? This application should make every job seeker think about what they are doing online and in their personal lives that may impact employability later on. The fact is, when you go online, you enter a very public space; the content you create will be out in cyber-space forever. Think before you post (or do) things that could incriminate you. Don't assume that "it won't matter" or that you "won't use your own name, so no one will know." I wouldn't be surprised to see more employers asking for online aliases, and to answer honestly, it would be necessary to provide them. So, whether or not you are thinking of going to work for President-elect Obama, this application is a wake-up call for every professional. Be sure your digital footprint isn't resting on a pile of quicksand that is ready to swallow you whole! Are you prepared to respond to personal questions for a job application? Do you think this type of questioning is a preview of what's to come for job seekers in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments section! Don't forget that Keppie Careers is here to help you succeed in your search! Need a great resume? Help getting started? Click HERE! photo by orebokech

11/16/2008 01:00 PM

How to Overcome the Holiday Hiring Lull

For most, the winter holidays are an enjoyable time for friends and family. However, job seekers have historically struggled during this time. They find that the volume of job advertisements and postings shrinks dramatically. Companies that had already initiated the process of finding qualified candidates tend to slow the process down. Job seekers are usually surprised by how slow things become, and for how long! The holiday doldrums usually start in mid-November and extend through at least mid-January. That’s about 10 weeks, over 2 full months, of time that many job seekers cannot get back. For someone out of work, this can cause a significant amount of stress, to say the least, particularly because it is during a time of year that families tend to spend a large portion of their disposable income. So Is There Any Hope? If you find yourself having to conduct a job search during the holidays, all is not lost! As many hiring managers, HR reps, and recruiters take vacations or simply allow things to slow down, most job seekers—especially your more passive job seekers—put their job search on hold until after the New Year. This creates some opportunities for candidates that are willing to be a little more aggressive. What Can I Do? Do what most job seekers are not willing to do, even during the “peak” hiring seasons: Cold call. I can hear you now, saying “What? I’m not a sales person!” If you are not a “natural” sales person, then change the perspective a little bit. Call yourself an investigator. Do some research on companies in your geographic market and industry for whom you would like to work. Then call them. Find out the name of the person that oversees the department you would be interested in. Try to contact that person directly, thus avoiding the standard process of going through HR, which can take way too much time, especially at this time of year.

11/15/2008 08:20 AM

Career Professionals Unite!!

If you are like me, you are a sincere, passionate career services professional who simply wants to help as many job seekers as you can. You got into this field because you saw how great a need there was for good, solid support. You wanted to create that amazing resume, walk them through that roller coaster ride of a job search, and be the shoulder to cry on during the tough days. You also wanted to be there to celebrate with seekers when they met their goals. It is a great industry, and if you're lucky, like I have been, you do some great work, generate some valuable referrals, and make a nice living. So that should be all there is to it, right? Although the career services industry has branched out in recent years, thanks to the Internet and sites like this one, it is still mostly composed of small specialty firms with one or two career professionals trying to get noticed. Some bigger fish are out there, but by and large the industry seems to thrive on the small business owner. Of course, there are professional associations to join. And of course there are networking sites to connect with. After all, isn't everyone on LinkedIn these days or Twitter? (If you're like me, you are still trying to "crack" their code...) Those are wonderful, and they may even result in some extra work, but couldn't we do better? This past year I decided to conduct an experiment. I had been trying to desperately to get job seekers to purchase my No Nonsense Job Search Strategy approach. I spent years crafting this approach, and I knew it would be an effective guide for job seekers. But no matter what I did, I could only generate a small amount of traffic to my site. So I decided to do what other industries have been doing for ages...I decided to set up an affiliate program, and in return, I picked a few other vendors who had complementary products that I knew my clients would like to know about. Honestly, I didn't hold out much hope.... Boy, was I wrong! It has been an amazing ride. Not only have I seen an increase in my sales, but also I have earned commissions on my colleagues' products (sometimes as much as 70%). It has created buzz, and I have achieved my goal of seeing my hard work end up in the hands of job seekers. I know, I know, your budgets are tight. So is mine!! There are some great inexpensive (even free) sites out there like ClickBank that make it very easy for you to become an affiliate for other vendors or for you to sell your products and services. Now I no longer feel like I am just waiting for people to notice me in my little corner of the world. And I am making some great friends with other like-minded career services professionals who have crafted unique approaches for job seekers or niche services that are needed. And let's face it, the number of job seekers is growing by the thousands daily. They need us, but they are having a hard time wading through all the info out there. They don't know where to spend their money, and the don't know who to trust. We need to join forces, and we need to do it now!

11/14/2008 02:06 PM

Interview Suits Back in Style

By Miriam Salpeter Keppie Careers With many companies “casual” and Google and similar organizations with relaxed dress codes heading up “top employer” lists, knowing what to wear to an interview is a lot more complicated than it once was. Conventional career advice says to dress more formally for an interview; it helps job seekers appear serious about the position and (when done correctly) gives applicants a more professional, polished look. Well, now it’s officially stylish to turn back to the interview suit, according to Eric Wilson in the New York Times Style section. He explains, “… With the unemployment rate in America at a 14-year high and more than half a million jobs lost in the last three months alone, there has been a detectable shift in the way people are dressing for work. In the financial sector, certainly, the tone has become more serious, and as a predictable result, somber suits are making a comeback.” The article reports that stores such as Men’s Wearhouse and Tahari are seeing higher sales for suits, especially classic navy and gray pinstripe styles classified as “interview suits.” “We are back to a time when every company expected both women and men to wear suits and we didn’t have a Casual Friday,” said Gloria Mirrione, a managing director of A-L Associates, a financial services placement firm. “They are looking for a sharper style. I recommend a strong suit that says you are collected and ready to work.” The fashion mavens do disagree about one thing: pant suits or skirts for women. The bottom line is that interviewees must do their research to help determine the best choice for interview attire. Women especially have many choices. Pants or skirts, accessories, colors or traditional navy and gray? Should you dress creatively - perhaps a flashy tie or colorful bag? Or conservative pin stripes? There is really no hard and fast rule. Do be aware that, in a tight job market, all of your choices are matters of scrutiny. Before you even get to the interview, employers have potentially vetted you online by checking social networks and Googling your name. Your resume was scanned for key words and scoured for skills and accomplishments. You need to know who you are, but also how other people perceive you. Bottom line - keep an eye on trends, but make choices that suit your plans. (Pun intended!) What did you wear to your last interview? Was it the right choice? Don’t forget that Keppie Careers is here to help with every aspect of your job hunt. Visit us at www.keppiecareers.com.